It was a bright morning in Meabeth and distant sounds of celebration could still be heard despite how long the ceremony had ended; the wedding ceremony of Prince Henry of Eddbry and the beautiful princess of Meabeth, princess Lucia. The people had celebrated all through the night. The princess bid her family farewell, while her husband waited at the entrance to their carriage. Ever since she was told of her marriage to the prince, she had prepared herself for this moment, when she shall part with her family and might never see them again. It wasn't customary for a princess or bride to cry on or a day after her wedding day, but Lucia could not hold back the tears that ran down her face. Neither could her father the King, as he watched his daughter walk towards the carriage.
The carriage wheel rolled along the lonely path to the kingdom of Eddbry. The soldiers, riding slowly on their horses side by side of the carriage to protect the newly weds sitting within. They had had a wonderful time during the ceremony, surrounded by the beautiful maidens of Meabeth and enough liquor to drink to their fill, not wanting the day to end. But unfortunately they had to return to their kingdom, where they won't get the liberty to drink as much as they please or surround themselves with maidens. They chatted among themselves in whispers about the wedding ceremony and how beautiful the Prince's bride was.
As per the order of the prince, they took a break from their trip and set up their tents on the plains. A few soldiers stood around, keeping watch while the others went into the forest to gather wood for the fire as it was going to be a cold and long night. As he sat in his tent, the prince could hear the conversation of the soldiers outside who had just returned from the forest and were beginning to offload a few things from the carriage.
"If I had a bride as pretty as she, I wouldn't leave her side even for a moment, else another man would take her from me." One of the soldiers said, as the prince had refused to sleep in the same tent as his new bride.
"Edward," another soldier called to the youngest, "What do you think of the princess?" He asked, seeing the young soldier had been quiet and barely spoke a word during this conversation.
"She is a fair maiden," he replied.
The first soldier sucked his teeth in disappointment while the other shook his head. But what more was expected of a man who had never shown interest in any woman?
"It's no surprise you don't have a woman yet." The second soldier said.
"A man like Edward doesn't need words to get a woman. His looks are enough to get any woman he wants." Another soldier suddenly joined their conversation. He was right. When it came to looks no man in the kingdom could be compared to Edward. Not even the prince, in his glorious handsomeness could compare to him.
"If I were a girl, I would ask his hand in marriage instead." The soldier further added.
"Instead of spending much time admiring another man, why not try getting a woman for yourself too, Oliver?" The second soldier asked him.
A loud voice was heard at the entrance of the throne room. The minister outside announced the presence of the young prince Henry and his new bride princess Lucia. With their hands intertwined, they walked towards the throne on which the king was seated gloriously. Beside him was the queen, smiling at the newly weds, as they made their way to the throne. Just as it had been rumoured, the princess was indeed a beauty to behold. She caught the eyes of all men who stood in the room to welcome them, ranking from the prime minister, the other noble men of the kingdom and generals of garrisons in the king's army; including her husband's younger brother, Prince Harry.
Lucia's eyes swept across the room, nervously. Her heart raced with every step they took further. Finding herself in a kingdom she had heard lots of stories about made her more scared than nervous. She never wanted the marriage as much as Henry didn't either. But her mind was changed after taking a glance at the prince on the night before the wedding. He was as divinely handsome as he had been said to be. The young maidens of Meabeth called him the Tempter (Deceiver). They say he seduces young maidens with his looks and does to them as he pleases. This made the young princess unwilling to marry such a man. And after taking a look at him, just like the rumours, she was also seduced by his looks. She couldn't get her eyes off him all through the ceremony. Not just her alone but also the other maidens of Meabeth alike. Some considered her lucky to be wedded to a man with such heavenly looks. Others thought her to be unlucky, to be the wife of a man with such rumours tied to his name. Some also thought they were a perfect couple, a fair bride deserves a fair groom. But despite all these thoughts and joy she felt during the ceremony and now that they were marching together as husband and wife towards his father's throne, Lucia's joy was incomplete. The prying eyes of the men around made her nervous, making her tighten her grip on the Prince's hand. But yet she had wished, if only her husband would look at her with the same desire as the men standing in the room had in their eyes towards her. Despite how firmly she grabbed his hand, he never cared to spare her a glance nor tried to calm her nerves. Perhaps he was as nervous as she was.
The smile on the King's face slowly disappeared but the happiness written all over was still visible to the eyes of everyone, as Henry and Lucia stood before him. Taking his staff in his hand, he rose from his seat, filled with glorious majesty.
"Kneel," he ordered the newly weds. And without hesitation, they did as they were ordered to; kneeling at the end of the stair that led up to the throne. Graciously, the king took steps down the stairs until he was standing in front of the couple. He stretched out his staff, patted twice, each on their right shoulders, giving them the king's blessing and also a father's blessing.
"Rise." He said to them, And they rose before the king.
"Behold," he said in a loud voice, "Prince Henry and his bride, Princess Lucia."
The council of nobles, the queen and the Prince's younger brother, all cheered the newly weds by clapping. The room echoed the sound of the clap and cheers to the prince and princess as they made their way to their seat which had been prepared for them, by the right hand side of the king at the bottom of the stairs. For the first time after the ceremony, Prince Henry lifted his eyes and looked at his new wife. This gladdened the heart to the young princess even though it was only for a split second. Henry had refused to spare her a glance except when necessary during the ceremony. He had also had the royal servants in Meabeth prepare another room for him to sleep in after the wedding ceremony and made his guards set up a separate tent for him. He never looked at her all through their journey back to Eddbry.
After they were seated the king called in the minister who stood at the entrance of the throne room and ordered him to prepare a feast for everyone within the palace walls to celebrate the marriage of his son and to send out gifts to every household in Eddbry.
The smell of food and wine, and sounds of chatter and laughter filled the evening air in the enormous ball room in the royal castle. Everyone ate, drank and made merry, except for the couple sitting by the King's side at the head of the table. Lucia chewed on her good with splendid grace and majesty, as expected of a fair maiden of her status. But the young prince, her husband barely touched his plate, instead consumed more wine; a glass after the other. This caused the princess to worry. The Prince's mood was obvious to Edward, who stood by one of the gigantic pillars, holding on to the roof of the ball room. Henry's displeasure was written all over his face and was obvious to Edward despite the distance that stood between them. He walked up to the prince and whispered to him. Just a sniff of the prince and Edward could tell how drunk he was, as he reeked of nothing but strong wine and liquor. Whatever it was that Edward might have whispered, was pleasing unto his ears as a smile grew on his face.
"I shall retire back to my quarters now." Henry said to his father.
"You do so." the king replied. "And have a bath. The princess doesn't seem to fancy the smell of liquor." he added with a laugh.
Slowly, Henry made his way to his quarters then his bedchamber, with Edward holding onto him the entire time. Carefully, Edward laid the drunken prince in his bed. He was about to leave when he felt a pair of cold hands gripped firmly on his wrist. The cold sensation around his wrist sent a shivering wave through his body to his heart. He suddenly felt a sensation in his stomach, just below his chest, and his heart beating faster.
"Didn't you say you'll take me to my chamber, why then are you leaving?" in his drunken state, asked the prince. Edward stood frozen, unable to respond to the Prince's words nor action. For a reason incomprehensible to him, he could not bring himself to move either. Henry sighed loudly before letting go of his hand and fell back on the bed. Turning around, he found the prince to be in a sound slumber. Studying his drunken countenance, he felt a little rage and a little sting of pain in his heart. He had been the closest guard and soldier to the prince for three years but never had he had such feelings toward the prince. Perhaps it could be, as this was the first time they had made any physical contact with each other, bare skin. But why the sudden rage? Why the sudden pain?